Friday, November 13, 2009

The Weekend Arrives

Your hair may be brushed, but your mind's untidy. You've had about seven hours of sleep since Friday. No wonder you feel that lost sensation. You're sunk from a riot of relaxation.

Ogden Nash

Tis no better day than Friday, I say. Unless you're a substitute teacher in the final hour of the school day. One can breathe the anticipation building throughout the day. By eighth period? Kids antsy. Unruly. Me? Ready to fly away.

But one thing about subbing, I don't take papers or lesson plans home. (My pay reflects that also.) I walk out the door, free as a bird. Will especially do that this weekend. Time for the annual Bunco weekend of overindulgence and relaxation. My group of 14 women has been together for over 20 years. We all met at the park, new stay at home moms, 8am and pushing our kids in the swings as we struggled to get used to a world without a paycheck, annual reviews, and a certain schedule.

An eclectic bunch -- artists, teachers, an enigma, a physician, hygienist, nurse, pilot, accountant, computer guru, saleswoman, writer, dog trainer, curriculum leader, and unlimited other talents -- we have met the second Tuesday of the month since 1989. Haven't played bunco in over ten years, but meet for the food, comfort, and talk. Lots of changes in our lives since way back then - children born, graduated, married. Deaths, divorces, cancers, depressions, a return to the workforce -- all those things life brings have bound us further. Even though many of us only see or talk to one another once in that month, we are a relaxed group when in company. I am blessed to have these bunco bitches, which is how we refer to ourselves. (There is another group in our neighborhood called the Bunco Babes. We don't belong to that one.)

Since I'll be bringing my laptop to further this Nanowrimo pursuit to move my novel forward, I'm going to let them help me write a sex scene in my book. I can only imagine how twisted that will turn out. (I'm only about 15,000 words behind the 25,000 I should have by this point.)

While I'm touting the greatness of others, let me also promote the new book of a very dear friend, Sorayya Khan. We go way back to college days - actually her husband and I do (I met him a few years before they became an item.) Sorayya's new book, Five Queen's Road, has just arrived via the mail. I can't wait to read it. Her previous book, Noor, is a favorite of mine. Sorayya is a most lovely woman. You will enjoy her writing.

And now, to the weekend where I'll take a break from the thoughts of midlife jobhunting and reflect on the gratitude I hold for a world filled with the diverse gifts of others. The picture at the beginning of my post is, I'm sure, the last bloom of my hibiscus plant for the year, so I'm sharing.May you all enjoy your weekend in the waning days of Autumn -- before the burgeoning schedule of the holidays overtakes us.

I'm so envious of your weekend. A friend and I have been having a hard time connecting since the kids are gone. We finally decided the only way to make sure it happens is to schedule a monthly meeting. This week was the first monthly Wine/Whine on Wednesday. We had so much fun, we're thinking it may have to be weekly instead of monthly.

Friends - where would we be without them? I love that idea of you all meeting once a month for all those years - old friends are the best kind. Enjoy your weekend, sounds to me as though you thoroughly deserve it.

Would you mind if some of us showed up for the December get-together? I'm only a stone's throw away in Georgia - gosh, it shouldn't cost but a couple of hundred dollars.

I had forgotten that your subing -thank goodness you have something to keep you off the streets and out of trouble! (This is kind of funny - you know how you sometimes read something with one eye and watch something on tv with the other? Well, I got to the line that you were taking your laptop and they were going to help you write the sex scene. And I thought WTF? She's going to get 8th graders to help her write a sex scene? Won't she get in trouble for that? Of course I had spaced out a few sentences there! Though that would be interesting ...).

I love that book cover! I'd probably get the book just for that reason if I were to come across it! I'm a sucker for a nice cover.

"Deaths, divorces, cancers, depressions, a return to the workforce -- all those things life brings have bound us further." Definitely sums up mid-life. Must Google bunco...enjoy your wonderful, non-work-filled weekend for a well deserved rest!

I can't get my mind around a group of women like that. Sounds like fun. The stuff of movies and novels! (I'd be the other kind of movie woman, lone sleeve over hand kinda weird one that falls accidentally in with a spy. You know, right?)

I was running with a bunch of Cajun Broads and Babes for a while, but once they turned 50 they started staying home, all the time. So, I've had to hang around more with guys, since then. :) Your gang sounds like a fun group! Have a blast, cher! Cheers!

I am in awe that you have a group of women for the long term all close by. The ones I've known forever are all over the country. One thought that brightens me about getting older is cultivating new friends and embracing the old. Have a have a fantastic weekend talking about everything including good sex! Er, sex scenes.

I am in a group like that.....we call ourselves the secret society of crazy broads. Their friendship has meant so much to me. OMG I laughed so hard when I read that you were going to let them help you write the sex scene....too funny. I have a co-worker who introduced me to pop rocks.....and here I thought they were candy for kids. I would need a lot of help apparently writing a sex scene. I am so enjoying reading your blog. Can't wait to read your book. Cheers.

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Road Trip

The present -- Onward! The Midlife Roadtripper continues the journey of the Midlife Jobhunter. I'm not quite certain if I'm still midlife, but I don't care. That's my name.

The beginning -- Accompanied by a stale resume in an even staler economic era, Midlife Jobhunter is a road trip toward the rediscovery of my own talents, abilities, gathered knowledge. Oh, yes, and the search for gainful employment. As I dust off my filing cabinet in search of the secondary high school English teaching certificate that expired 24 years ago, I embark on an adventure. I can’t look at it any differently than that, or it will overwhelm me.

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About Me

Julie Sucha Anderson (Julianne Anderson) is a mid-life writer of personal essays, short stories, and a novel and three-quarters. She is an editor and contributor to many publications including Grrl Talk - Sass, Wit, and Wisdom from the Austin WriterGrrls.